Monday 5 November 2012

Oberon-class Submarine HMAS OVENS (S70)


Oh look, another Oberon-class submarine museum and this time she's Royal Australian Navy's HMAS OVENS (S70) parked high and dry at on Fremantle's historic WWII submarine slipway next to the Western Australia Maritime Museum. Like Canada's former Oberons the OVENS was built in Scotland. She was commissioned in April 1969 and served in the RAN until 1995. This is the second Oberon-class submarine museum that's caught my eye. The first was HMCS ONONDAGA (S72) perched along the St. Lawrence near Rimouski, Quebec. Read all about her, here: http://carlzboats.blogspot.ca/2012/08/hmcs-onondaga-s73_30.html or NOT c);-b
By the way, there's no truth to the rumour that her name refers what it's like to serve on a submarine without air conditioning as the 'OVENS' was actually named after Australian explorer, John Ovens. Though not a real museum, on display near the OVENS is the preserved bow section of another Oberon submarine, HMAS OXLEY (S57), where you may get a 'right in your face' look at the mouths of the six torpedo tubes along with the modified bow sonar dome. Apparently the fin of the OXLEY is also on display at the nearby naval base, HMAS STIRLING which is pretty much a restricted area ever since US nuclear-powered boomers started making shore visit.

Meanwhile, the next Oberon museum will be located at the  Elgin Military Museum in Port Burwell, ON and you're planning to be in the area on Wednesday, November14th, can you send me a photo or 5 of the Landing Day of HMCS OJIBWA.  Starting at dawn, the OJIBWA will be carefully driven off her barge and lowered on to her permanent foundations at the museum. COOL!! For more information, contact the Museum by email at media@projectojibwa.ca or by phone at 1-519-633-7641 for more details. Wish I could be there.

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